Yesterday I sat on rocks at the edge of a small wetland and was surprised by a tiny movement followed by two little critters popping out from the reeds.
Canon 5DSR, Canon 200-400mm L IS USM EXT
1/800, f/5.6, ISO 1600, focal length 560mm
Australasian Swamphens (previously Purple Swamphens) are fairly common in many parts of the country. Two adults were racing around selecting soft parts of the reeds to feed to the chicks.
They also eat snails and frogs, and have been recorded taking eggs and ducklings. I wish birds wouldn’t eat birds quite so often!
Canon 5DSR, Canon 200-400mm L IS USM EXT
1/800, f/5.6, ISO 1600, focal length 560mm
I briefly saw a third chick, begging not to be forgotten when the parents returned with food. Swamphens can raise two broods a year on nest of trampled reeds.
Canon 5DIII, Canon 100-400mm L IS USM
1/800, f/5.6, ISO 400, focal length 560mm
Adult swamphens are striking looking birds with their beautiful bluish-purple underparts. They have bright red bills and frontal shields that match their red irises. This photograph was taken a while ago at the same wetland.
Happy birding, Kim
~ Facebook page Kim Wormald – lirralirra
~ Facebook group Ethical Bird Photography
A few years ago I photographed a pair of very new Dusky Moorhen chicks and was lucky to capture them in the open, in great light.
Wonder what the red shield does on their forehead? Love it when the very young walk around with their unformed pink wings poking out the side. At the sanctuary you knew they were Kiwis when you heard “look at the Pukekos.”
I still call them Pukekos pretty often, it’s a good name! Your question about the frontal shield set me hunting and I found this fascinating information, thanks so much for asking the question. https://phys.org/news/2017-01-swamphens-dominance-fleshy.html
They’re horrified by their own reflection 🙂
Oh I wonder if they were looking at their reflections! How cute!
Ugly is definitely in the eye of the beholder. I think that they have IMMENSE gawky charm though I am sure that (like most youngsters whatever the species) the sound of their begging would wear on me very, very quickly. Years back from our loungeroom window we watched an adult corella firmly rap a begging youngster on the head. It silenced the young un (for all of twenty seconds) and inside the house we quietly cheered.
You’re right, I feel a bit scundered now. What you saw with the corella sounds very much like my Gannet Discipline shot, so comical to see.
Aw they’re so sweet! It was really special to see them with you and gorgeous to see what they look like up close! 🙂
Pretty interesting little tackers aren’t they 🙂 Always lovely to go birding with you and yours!